Blueberry plant named ‘BB05-274MI-139’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of blueberry plant named ‘BB05-274MI-139’ as described and shown herein. ‘BB05-274MI-139’ is a new and distinct high chill tetraploid Northern highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium ) variety of ancestry based largely on  V. corymbosum  with a limited number of genes from  V. angustifolium . It is a productive late season ripening variety that ripens approximately at the same time as Elliott, and 25 days after Bluecrop. ‘BB05-274MI-139’ provides a very good yield potential, very good plant vigor, fruit quality and firmness, as well as characteristics suitable to mechanical harvesting, and very good flavor and texture.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Blueberries are a well-known fruit enjoyed by many throughout the world.One example of an existing, patented blueberry variety is Liberty, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 15,146. Another example of an existing, patentedblueberry variety is Elliott, unpatented.

Compared to Liberty, ‘BB05-274MI-139’ matures approximately 10 dayslater. The fruit shape of ‘BB05-274MI-139’ is rounder, larger, andslightly darker blue, and the bush shape of ‘BB05-274MI-139’ is morespreading than Liberty.

Compared to Elliott, the maturity of ‘BB05-274MI-139’ is 2-3 days later.The fruit shape of ‘BB05-274MI-139’ is slightly rounder, and the bushshape is more upright compared to Elliott. ‘BB05-274MI-139’ has fruitsize that is much larger than Elliott.

The present cultivar, ‘BB05-274MI-139’, provides one or more advantagescompared to these and/or other blueberry varieties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 is a close-up photograph taken in July 2012 of the Blueberrycultivar ‘BB05-274MI-139’, showing mature leaves and also showing theshape and color of the leaves as well as petiole size and color,serrated leaf margins, and venation.

FIG. 2 is a photograph taken in July 2012 of the Blueberry cultivar‘BB05-274MI-139’, showing a 6 year old bush in pot, and showing the bushshape, branching habit, color of leaves, and fruit presentation of thevariety.

FIG. 3 is a close-up photograph taken in July 2012 of the Blueberrycultivar ‘BB05-274MI-139’, showing a fruit cluster with ripe and unripefruit, and also showing shape, calyx, pedicel, peduncle and clusterdensity of the fruit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Note: statements of characteristics herein represent exemplaryobservations of the cultivar herein and will vary depending on time ofyear, location, annual weather, etc. Where dimensions, sizes, colors,and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that suchcharacteristics are approximations and averages. The descriptionsreported herein are largely from specimen plants grown near GrandJunction in 2011 and 2012. Data were obtained on plants that were 7years old.

-   Cultivar name: ‘BB05-274MI-139’.-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Ericaceae.        -   Botanical name.—Vaccinium corymbosum.        -   Common name.—Blueberry.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Brigitta (open pollinated selection of            Lateblue unpatented). U.S. Plant Pat. No.: none. Compared to            Brigitta, ‘BB05-274MI-139’ has a maturity date that is 17            days later. BB05-274MI-139 has a slightly darker, rounder            and much firmer berry. ‘BB05-274MI-139’ also has a more            spreading bush shape and the leaf margins of            ‘BB05-274MI-139’ are serrated while Brigitta is entire.        -   Male parent.—Nelson (Bluecrop unpatented×G107 unpatented).            U.S. Plant Pat. No.: none. Compared to Nelson,            ‘BB05-274MI-139’ matures 17 days later. ‘BB05-274MI-139’ has            a slightly larger, more firm berry than Nelson. Also, the            leaf margins of ‘BB05-274MI-139’ are serrated while Nelson            is entire, and the bush shape of ‘BB05-274MI-139’ is more            upright than Nelson.

BB06-507MI-15 was created from a cross in 2006 in a greenhouse inHolland, Mich. Emasculated flowers of Draper were hand pollinated withpollen from Brigitta. Seed was germinated, and plants were grown for 18months and then planted in a seedling evaluation plot near Muskegon,Mich. in 2007. The plant was evaluated for 3 years and first selected in2010, based on excellent and desirable fruit and morphologicalcharacteristics—maturity date, bush habit and vigor, berry quality,flavor, and storage ability. The bush was dug from the field in October2011 and transplanted into a pot and placed in a virus-free screenedgreenhouse. Additional plants have propagated by softwood cuttings andtissue culture and have retained the original characteristics. Five andten bush advanced trials have been planted in Grand Junction, Gobles,and South Haven, Mich.

‘BB05-274MI-139’ was first asexually propagated by softwood cuttings in2010 in Grand Junction, Mich. ‘BB05-274MI-139’ was also asexuallypropagated by micropropagation by tissue culture beginning in 2010 andproduced cloned plants. The propagated plants from softwood cuttings andtissue culture have retained the original characteristics. The varietyroots readily from softwood cuttings and tissue culture microshoots.

Field observations were made in 2012 on a mature 7-year old plantlocated in Grand Junction, Mich. Laboratory analysis of fruitcharacteristics were also done in Grand Junction.

General comments: ‘BB05-274MI-139’ is a new and distinct high chilltetraploid Northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium) variety of ancestrybased largely on V. corymbosum with a limited number of genes from V.angustifolium. ‘BB05-274MI-139’ is a productive late season ripeningvariety that ripens approximately at the same time as Elliott, and 25days after Bluecrop. ‘BB05-274MI-139’ is characterized as having large,very firm fruit of medium light blue color with a very small and drypicking scar. The fruit is well exposed on a vigorous medium uprightplant. Due to a medium sized crown, a loose berry cluster, concentratedripening, firm and easily detached fruit, the variety displayscharacteristics suitable for mechanical harvesting. It is intended forareas that successfully grow high chill Northern highbush varieties.Ripe fruit are large, typically 2.5 grams/berry. The mean date offlowering in southern Michigan is approximately May 5. Frost protectionmay be needed for successful pollination and fruit set. Winter chillrequirement for successful flowering and leafing is at least 1000 hoursbelow 7° C. The mean ripening date is August 5. Fruit shape is oblatewith a medium high amount of waxy bloom that is persistent followinghandling. It has very good flavor, balanced between medium levels ofsweetness and acidity with a crunchy and juicy texture. It has aboveaverage storage ability in refrigeration of 3-4 weeks. ‘BB05-274MI-139’provides a very good yield potential, very good plant vigor, fruitquality, flavor and firmness, as well as characteristics suitable tomechanical harvesting, and very good flavor and texture.

References to color refer to The Pantone Book of Color, Eisemann andHerbert, Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Publishers, New York, ISBN 0-8109-3711-5,1990.

SpectraMagic NX Model CR410, Konica Minolta, Japan.

Morphological characteristics reference: Plant Systematics, Jones andLuchsinger, 2 Ed., McGraw Hill, New York, ISBN 0-07-032796-3, 1986.

Firmness readings—BioWorks FirmTec2, Wamena, Kans.

-   Average size information: Large bush, spreading shape, 7 year old    plant 140 cm height, 170 cm width, height/width ratio 0.8:1.-   Growth: Excellent.-   Productivity: Very good.-   Cold hardiness: Leaf and flower buds −26° C., open flowers and fruit    −2° C.-   Specific features of the variety:-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Medium upright.        -   Plant width.—170 cm.        -   Plant height.—140 cm.        -   Spread.—150 cm.        -   Productivity.—6-7 lbs per mature bush.        -   Cold hardiness/tolerance.—Leaf and flower buds −26° C.,            flowers and fruit −2° C.        -   Chilling requirement.—1000+ hours below 7° C.        -   Canes.—Well branched, 15-18 canes/bush, 50-55 cm range;            medium high number of laterals. Mature cane color — Pantone            Gray Sand 13-1010.        -   Fruiting wood.—Smooth, immature winter color — Pantone Fall            Leaf 15-1132; immature summer color — Pantone Apple Green            15-0543.        -   Surface texture of new wood.—Smooth.        -   Mature canes.—Circular, 12 mm width.        -   Time of beginning of leaf bud burst (include            location(s)).—April 20 (Grand Junction, Mich.).        -   Time of beginning of flowering (include location(s)).—May 5            (Grand Junction, Mich.).        -   Time of fruit ripening (include location(s)).—August 5            (Grand Junction, Mich.).        -   Disease resistance/susceptibility.—None claimed.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf color.—Upper — Pantone Cypress 18-0322; lower — Pantone            Peridot 17-0336.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf margins.—Serrated.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate.        -   Leaf apices.—Acute.        -   Leaf bases.—Acute.        -   Vein and petiole colouration.—Pantone Herbal Garden 15-0336.        -   Petiole length.—3 mm.        -   Leaf dimensions.—Overall shape: 49 cm-77 cm range, average            68 cm. Width: 26 cm-36 cm range, average 31 cm.        -   Leaf margins.—Serrated, small glands in indentations.        -   Leaf surface.—Glaborous.-   Flower:    -   -   Flower shape.—Elongate urceolate.        -   Flower bud number.—High.        -   Flowers per cluster.—8-9.        -   Flower fragrance.—Sweetly floral.        -   Corolla color.—Pantone Snow White 11-0602.        -   Corolla length.—9 mm.        -   Corolla aperture width.—5 mm.        -   Flower peduncle.—17-20 mm.        -   Color.—Pantone Cedar 16-0526.        -   Flower pedicel.—10 mm.        -   Color.—Pantone Cedar 16-0526.        -   Calyx (with sepals).—2 mm.        -   Color.—Pantone Cedar 16-0526.        -   Stamen.—Length: 7 mm.        -   Number per flower.—10.        -   Filament color.—Pantone Caramel 16-1439.        -   Style.—7 mm, top of ovary to stigma tip.        -   Color.—Pantone Mosstone 17-0525.        -   Pistil.—5 mm.        -   Ovary color.—Pantone Mosstone 17-0525.        -   Anther.—Length: 4 mm.        -   Number.—10.        -   Color.—Pantone Caramel 16-1439.        -   Pollen.—Abundance: Medium high. Color: Pantone Vanilla            12-0712.-   Fruit:    -   -   Date of 50% maturity.—August 1 (Grand Junction, Mich.).        -   Yield.—6-7 lbs/bush.        -   Berry color.—With wax: Pantone Silver Lake Blue 17-4030,            SpectraMagic (L, a, b) 44.12, 0.69, −3.64. With wax removed:            Pantone Majolica Blue 19-4125.        -   Berry flesh color.—Pantone Frozen Dew 13-0513.        -   Berry surface wax abundance.—Medium-heavy, persistent.        -   Calyx.—Width — 8 mm; depth — 3 mm; shape — 5 lobed; small            ridging of 1 mm lobes.        -   Berry weight.—2.5 grams/berry.        -   Berry size diameter.—17 mm width, 13 mm height, Aspect (H/W)            — 0.8.        -   Berry shape.—Oblate.        -   Cluster density.—Loose.        -   Detachment force.—Easy.        -   Self-fruitfulness.—Good; cross pollination will enhance            berry size and yield.        -   Fruit stem scar.—Very small, <1 mm, dry.        -   Berry firmness.—Firm; FirmTec2 reading — 217 g/mm².        -   Berry sweetness.—Medium Brix° 11.9.        -   Berry acidity.—Medium high, TA — 0.95.        -   Berry flavor and texture.—Good flavor, good balance of            sweetness and acidity, slightly crunchy and juicy texture.        -   Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—-   Seed:    -   -   Seed abundance in fruit.—Medium, 10-15 per berry.        -   Seed color.—Pantone Narcissus 16-0950.        -   Seed dry weight.—NA.        -   Seed size.—Medium, 1.5 mm.-   Possible typical market uses: Fresh market, processing into jams,    puree, yogurt.-   Storage quality: Very good, 3-4 weeks in refrigerated storage.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Blueberry plantnamed ‘BB05-274MI-139’ as described and shown herein.